News based game and process for playing same

ABSTRACT

A process is provided for playing a news game that includes a first user inputting generated or provided information about a news story into the game. The first user is given fictional journalistic supplies or equipment with which the first user obtains answers to a plurality of story question from among: who, what, when, where and why using the provided information. The first user developing a news story based on the answers. A game is provided for implementing the game process based on software, a computer with a user interface, and a display.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/734,301 filed Dec. 6, 2012; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in general relates to game play and in particular to a news themed game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While various role playing games have been developed, there is a general lack of game play that also provides educational insights into the process of journalism. As studies have shown that a citizenry able to critically evaluate news content is more engaged in public life and able to make informed political decisions.

Thus, there exists a need for a game that while entertaining, exposes a player to a series of events and decision-making points associated with the development and presentation of a news story.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A process is provided for playing a news game that includes a first user inputting generated or provided information about a news story into the game. The first user is given fictional journalistic supplies or equipment with which the first user obtains answers to a plurality of story question from among: who, what, when, where and why using the provided information. The first user developing a news story based on the answers. A game is provided for implementing the game process based on software, a computer with a user interface, and a display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic of the architecture of an inventive game;

FIG. 1B is a schematic of process flow for the inventive game;

FIG. 2 is schematic of a User/player feedback loop according the inventive game; and

FIG. 3 is a summary schematic of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention has utility as a game. An inventive game is amenable to play as a multimedia, Internet based game or alternatively, as a board game.

The present invention is the gamification of news. The person(s) who use it is (are) called a “User” (“Users”) or a “Player” (“Players”). Both terms will be used interchangeably in this description.

Users can access the present invention in one of three ways. They are the website NewsBiz.com™, social media via a social media application/program, and a mobile device (using a NewsBiz.com™ or social media app).

Accessing inventive game Via NewsBiz.com™ (See FIG. 1A): when a game player accesses for the first time on NewsBiz.com, they will be prompted to enter their user data (e.g., first name, last name, username, password, date of birth, etc.). Once done, they will be asked to log in to be welcomed and begin playing. This information can be incorporated into inventive gameplay.

Accessing inventive game Via Social Media (See FIG. 1A): when a player accesses the inventive game for the first time through a (their) social media account, they will be prompted to allow NewsBiz to access their user data existing on their social media account and all connections to other social media users and any activity conducted on said social media site. This information can be incorporated into gameplay.

Accessing inventive game Via Mobile Device (See FIG. 1A): when a player accesses the inventive game for the first time from their mobile device, they will be prompted to allow NewsBiz™ to access their mobile account information, including their contact list, GPS data, camera information and other device and account information. This information can be incorporated into gameplay.

Welcome To Players: when a player accesses the inventive game for the first time and enters their user data and/or allows access to the information described previously, they are welcomed to the game as a new journalist with a welcome page that includes a welcome message and avatar of their character. Players will have the option to customize their avatar by choosing different skin colors, hair styles, clothing, accessories, etc.

Also, the player will be given a starter pack containing essential news gear (equipment) for a journalist in the real world. Some of the items in the pack include a pen, paper, a camera and a mobile phone. The user can see their pack and its contents by scrolling over its icon in the upper right portion of the user interface during gameplay. The player will have the option to add or buy or delete items from their pack and create separate packs.

Onboarding—Getting Players Used To Playing game (See FIG. 1B): after being welcomed, a NewsBiz player can get their feet wet in playing NewsBiz by onboarding. Onboarding allows players to get the hang of navigating through NewsBiz and using its functions (and their tools). Onboarding is performed by giving the player one or more finite sample stories to uncover and tell.

First, the player's avatar is immersed in the game news station. Then they are invited to a news meeting. In the meeting, they are asked to choose to cover and tell the lead news story. Once chosen, the player gathers the news about their story like a real world journalist. Some actions include making phone calls, researching records, traveling to scenes, and conducting interviews. While they are news-gathering, players are answering the basic questions of a story: Who, What, When, Where and Why. As they perform their actions and attain answers, a progress bar and checklists on the user interface fill in to let the player know how close they are to completing their story assignment.

Also, their rating (called “Cred Score”) rises and falls to give the player a sense of their performance as a journalist. The inventive game then quantifies journalists' traits such as integrity, accuracy, objectivity, being first, etc. In order to come up with a player's Cred Score and update it.

Once a player completes gathering their story's information, players can see their character perform their story in a newscast. The sentences said or shown in the game are computer generated or can be written by the player.

Players have the option of playing alone or with one or more other players in a team.

The present invention is further detailed with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 that detail User/Player Feedback Loops as shown.

The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention. 

1. A process of playing a news game comprising: a first user inputting generated or provided information about a news story into the game; said first user given fictional journalistic supplies or equipment; said first user obtaining answers a plurality of story question from among: who, what, when, where and why using the provided information; and said first user developing a news story based on the answers.
 2. The process of claim 1 further comprising a second user competing with said first user for a reward.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein each of said first user and said second user operate in a competitive feedback loop.
 4. The process of claim 1 further comprising corporate branding of said fictional journalistic supplies or equipment.
 5. The process of claim 1 further comprising corporate sponsorship of said news story.
 6. The process of claim l further comprising said first user obtaining contacts and connections via social media or a mobile device for obtaining the answers.
 7. A news game comprising: software for implementing the process of claim 1; a computer for operating said software; a user interface to entry of data to said computer; and a display for said user to view visual or audio output from computer. 